St. Anthony Hospital's Physician Billing Office in Oklahoma City: Handling Emergency Department Claims

St. Anthony Hospital's physician billing office processes claims and patient accounts for emergency department physicians and their services, operating as the back-office function that separates the bill for physician fees from the separate hospital facility bill a patient receives after an ER visit.

What This Office Does

When a patient receives emergency care at St. Anthony Hospital, two separate invoices typically arrive. One covers the facility (room, equipment, imaging, lab work); the other covers the physician's professional services. St. Anthony's physician billing office manages the latter, handling claim submission to insurance companies, patient payment plans, and account inquiries related to doctor fees only. This office does not bill for hospital services or handle radiology, lab, or pharmacy fees. The separation exists because physicians and hospitals have different billing identifiers and insurance relationships, even when working in the same facility.

Services and What to Expect

The billing office processes accounts for emergency medicine physicians employed by or contracted with St. Anthony Hospital's emergency department. Typical services include:

• Claim submission to Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers, and workers' compensation
• Patient payment plan negotiation for out-of-pocket balances
• Insurance verification and explanation of benefits (EOB) review
• Account adjustment and correction when claims are denied or underpaid
• Follow-up on unpaid or partially paid claims

Pricing varies by insurance and service type. Medicare reimbursement for emergency department evaluation and management typically ranges from $150 to $400 depending on complexity level, but the patient's out-of-pocket cost depends on deductible status and coinsurance. Uninsured patients may qualify for financial assistance through the hospital's charity care program; the billing office can direct them to apply. Specific balance amounts and payment plan terms require a direct call to verify the individual account.

How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Options

Patients with emergency department bills in Oklahoma City may also receive bills processed through other hospital billing offices (Mercy, OU Medical Center, Integris) or through independent physician billing companies contracted to manage ER doctor billing. The functional difference is minimal: all process claims the same way. The practical difference lies in how aggressively each office pursues denials and how accessible they are by phone.

St. Anthony's office is part of a single hospital system, which can speed resolution when a claim relates to a service error or coding question, since physicians and billing staff share records and communication channels. A standalone billing company must request records from the hospital, adding time. Patients with complex denials or repeated claim problems may find the integrated approach faster. Patients simply calling to set up a payment plan may find little difference between offices; responsiveness varies by call volume and staffing.

Who This Serves and Who Should Look Elsewhere

This office serves patients who received emergency physician services at St. Anthony Hospital and have questions about the physician portion of their bill. It handles uninsured and insured patients, including self-pay individuals. It does not handle facility charges, hospital bills, or physician services from other departments at St. Anthony (urgent care, observation unit, inpatient admission).

Patients billing disputes about hospital facility services (imaging cost, room charges, medication markup) need to contact St. Anthony Hospital's main patient billing department, not the physician billing office. Patients with questions about a claim filed by a different hospital's ER should contact that hospital's billing office instead.

First Contact

Call the physician billing office with your account number (found on the bill), date of service, or name and date of birth. Have insurance information available if disputing a denial. The office can typically explain a bill over the phone, confirm whether a claim was sent to insurance, provide a copy of the bill, or discuss payment plan options. For complex issues requiring medical record review (coding disputes, service necessity), expect a callback within 1-2 business days after your initial call.

Hours and Logistics

The physician billing office operates during standard business hours (verify current hours and phone number by calling St. Anthony Hospital's main line or checking the hospital website, as staffing can change seasonally). All contact is by phone or mail; there is no walk-in billing window for this office. Payments can be made online, by phone, or by mail to the address on the bill. No parking or in-person visit is required.

St. Anthony's physician billing office fills a necessary gap between hospital and doctor billing, making it the correct contact for emergency doctor fees only.